This Sunday, we'll begin by sharing personal stories and roots that have shaped our politic, both individually and collectively, thus far, and look to a root of Jesus' politic--his baptism. What does it mean to be a person baptized and raised to life in the name of one who came to be about solidarity and a radical alternative to the world as it is? How does claiming that identity shape our politic?

Scripture: Luke 3:15-22

Dialogue Questions:

• What are some reasons you’ve heard why Jesus got baptized? 
• What’s a significant root that forms your politic?
• For you, what does solidarity look like? 
• Who do we see Jesus in solidarity with? 
• How do the baptismal waters root our identity with Christ and shape our politic?

In our first week, we talked about the root of our politic – what is core to each of us - that grows into the ways we act politically. We named baptism as a possible root as we revisited the story of Jesus’ baptism as an act of solidarity. This week, we will take seriously the ways our faith traditions, scriptures, and personal experiences give form to our political beliefs and commitments which are much wider and deeper than our voting habits and party allegiances.

In small group Circle Practice, we will get deeper into the questions: 

• What is a root of our politic?
• How is the current political reality personal for you?"

On the eve of the inauguration and of Martin Luther King Jr. day, it feels important to gather in a place where each person is welcomed, where we strive to hear every voice, and we intentionally practice honesty and solidarity.

For the coming three weeks, we're going to spend time in temptations--specifically Jesus' temptations in Luke 4 and where those temptations intersect our lives now. Because if we are honest, temptations are everywhere and it can often be easier to live into the tempting ways of empire than into God's kin-dom vision.

Luke 4:1-4

Dialogue Questions:

• What harm is there in turning stones to bread? What is this temptation really about?
• Where do you see examples of this type of temptation in the political landscape of the U.S.?
• What are you feeling tempted for your stone to become in this wilderness?

This week, we move to Jesus' second temptation in the desert, as recorded in the Book of Luke. This temptation requires we take a look at our assumptions about evil, what exactly power means, and identify Jesus' political tactics and the roots of his kin-dom. 

Luke 4:1-8

Dialogue Questions:

• What makes it difficult or easy to identify “evil”?
• What are the false choices we face that feel similar to Jesus’ temptation?
• Where does Jesus’ strength and rootedness come from, and where do we find ours?

This Sunday, we'll be in the wilderness for the final temptation with Jesus in our series, A Rooted Politic. We will hold space for where each of us are in this political wilderness moment as we dialogue about what it means to really be committed to God's kin-dom vision in the face of evil and empire while collectively daring to walk the more dangerous path in solidarity. 

Come out on Sunday to remember we are not alone in the here and now. Come to share both what in your life has kept you from choosing the costlier, more dangerous path as well as naming what you need to commit to the harder path, too. Come to remind each other that this costlier way is where God, abundance, liberation, love, and strength do in fact meet us. 

Luke 4:9-13

Dialogue Questions:

• What are you feeling and experiencing in this political moment and in these unraveling days? 
• What in your life has kept you at times from doing the harder thing? 
• When you’ve chosen (or simply had to) take a harder, costlier, more dangerous path, why did you do it? How did you do it? 
• What do you need to stand and not bow down?

After wandering in the wilderness with Jesus and identifying the temptations we have in common, both with Jesus and with each other, we will make a pivot this week. In order to develop a rooted politic, we have to know not only what we will not do, but what we will do, what we desire, what we long for... This is best done in community where we can echo each other's dreams back and share our own. So, we will participate in Circle Practice again this week, stepping into small groups of about 10 for a portion of the gathering to consider:

• In this particular moment in our country, about what are you needing to resist and stand firm?  
• What do you long for at this moment?

Scripture: Luke 4:14-21

Our dialogue was shaped in part by six prints, part of a series called "We Got Us" created by Grace Boone in response to the 2024 election and her church community's anguish and hope. We thank Grace for creating these prints for us and so graciously lending her artistic gifts.

Dialogue Questions:

• What print did you choose and why did you choose it? What was grounding and rooted about it for you?
• Where have you heard this theme in this series, either in the scriptures, in circles, in song, or in dialogue?
• Where do we have deep roots, deep passion, and feel compelled to live out solidarity and love?